Elisa Ricci
President
In 2007, everything was about to change. My childhood dream of having my own dog came true—not by normal standards, but because a 6-day-old orphaned Rottweiler x German Shepherd puppy needed a mom. What does a 19-year-old know about caring for an orphaned puppy? Not much. And so the journey began. Raising Mia reignited my passion for animals, prompting me to change careers from hairstylist to my true passion: working with animals. My devotion to ensuring that myself and my dog had the best relationship possible set me on a transformative journey. It wasn’t always easy, as Mia was a headstrong working breed, and this led me into the world of training.
Seeing the remarkable benefits that training brought to our lives, I made it my mission to share my knowledge and education with the world. As a dog trainer, I vowed to devote myself to encouraging people to strengthen the bond between humans and dogs through training, proper communication, and understanding their dogs’ specific needs. With the confidence I built within myself due to the relationship I had with Mia, I made the choice to move across the country to give us both a more active, adventurous life. Together, we road-tripped endlessly, traveling all across Canada and the USA multiple times. People would marvel at our relationship (but if only they knew the hard work it took to get us there). If it weren’t for all the training, none of those travels or this life would have been possible. I became the woman and trainer I am today because of the strength of that bond. Mia wasn’t just my dog; she was my best friend and also my work partner, demonstrating to thousands of dogs throughout her lifespan that hard work and consistency does pay off.
Sadly, in September 2021, just shy of 14 years old, Mia crossed over the rainbow bridge. I took a break and almost gave up my career. The universe had other plans; some say the “mountains were calling,” but it was the dogs. I shifted my focus and figured out what was most important to me and decided to form Wild to Tame Pet Services Inc, where I devote a portion of my time and energy to rescues in both Canada and Costa Rica.
I did let love in again, adopting a traumatized, fearful adult dog that I named Yogi Bear, from Paws It Forward Dog Rescue. Working hard on his rehabilitation, he is now confident, carefree, and radiates love to all (even those who don’t want it). He is living proof that one can overcome a very traumatic past—a lesson I value more than anything. In addition, he sometimes assists at work, working with reactive and over excited dogs, so he is also "paying it forward".
My belief is that our dogs are our greatest teachers.
Credentials
I began my journey in animal wellfar by completing the Animal Care Certificate Program (also known as the Vet Assistant Program) at Sheridan College in 2009/2010, where I graduated with high honors and earned an Ontario College Certificate. In 2010, I furthered my expertise by completing the Dog Obedience Trainer Certification through a large corporate program, where my work was overseen and evaluated for several years. I continued working with this company for over a decade—five years in Ontario and another six in Kelowna—where I played a pivotal role in growing the business, regularly training between 50 and 80 new clients every six weeks.
In 2019, I attended a four-day training conference in Portland, Oregon, organized by the American Association of Professional Pet Trainers. This event exposed me to a variety of innovative techniques and methods from trainers around the world, expanding my skill set and knowledge base.
My efforts have been recognized locally, as I received the Best of Kelowna Gold award in 2019 and the Silver award in 2020. Additionally, I am an active member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), a professional organization that supports individual trainers in their continued development.
Volunteering has also been a vital part of my career. Over the years, I’ve contributed to organizations such as the SPCA Ontario (2004), the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides (2011-2013), the African Dawn Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa (2010), the Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary in Costa Rica (2023), and El Refugio Costa Ballena Animal Rescue in Costa Rica (2023). I currently volunteer, foster mom, and do my work as dog trainer with Paws it Forward Dog Rescue in Kelowna. With many future plans to continue my education and volunteer work.
